Author: Desiree Whitehead
There are certain conversations you walk into as one version of yourself… and walk out feeling expanded. More grounded. More seen.
My recent appearance on Brave Voices in Education, hosted by Craig Aarons-Martin of CCM Education Group, was one of those moments — a conversation rooted in truth, identity, belonging, and the courage to show up as your full self in spaces that weren’t always designed with you in mind.
And as surreal as it feels to say:
It was my first-ever podcast.
A real, full-circle moment.
Craig created a space where honesty didn’t feel risky — it felt welcomed. And that’s the heartbeat of this episode: what happens when authenticity is the default, not the exception.
The Power of Being Fully Yourself
One of the themes we kept returning to is something that has shaped so much of my journey:
You cannot build a meaningful life or business by shrinking.
➤ Not in your voice.
➤ Not in your story.
➤ Not in your brilliance.
We talked about what it means to navigate environments where you often feel like the only one — the only Black woman, the only creative thinker, the only person willing to speak truth to power — and how that experience can either silence you… or sharpen you.
For me, it sharpened me.
It taught me to create the spaces I wished existed.
And in many ways, HOWL was born from that exact desire.
Finding Your People Changes Everything
Craig and I met by chance at a conference, but the connection was immediate — rooted in purpose, humor, and recognition. The “I see you” kind. The “you’re not alone” kind.
We talked about the relief and the awakening that happens when you finally meet people who:
-
- understand your lived experience
- value your perspective
- and want you to take up more space, not less
Because the truth is simple:
Community is a strategy. And belonging is a catalyst.
The Journey to ‘Trust Your Dopeness’
Something my audience already knows well — and something I shared openly on the podcast — is my mantra for this year:
✨ Trust Your Dopeness. ✨
It’s not just a phrase. It’s a practice.
A reminder to believe in the things you’ve built, the voice you’ve developed, and the path you’re creating even when doubt taps you on the shoulder.
On the episode, I talked about how imposter syndrome doesn’t magically disappear as you rise. You just get better at recognizing it — and refusing to let it drive.
That’s what this year is about for me: fully trusting the version of me I’ve worked so hard to grow into.
A Conversation Rooted in Purpose and Courage
Our conversation explored identity, growth, entrepreneurship, education, storytelling, and the emotional labor of showing up wholeheartedly in a world that often wants uniformity.
But at its core, this episode is about:
➤ Choosing truth over performance.
➤ Choosing courage over silence.
➤ Choosing expansion over expectation.
It’s a reminder that your story isn’t something you should dilute to make others comfortable. It’s something you should carry boldly because someone else needs to hear it.
If You Need a Sign to Step into Your Next Season… This Is It
This podcast wasn’t just an interview.
It was a mirror.
A moment of alignment.
A chance to speak from a place I’ve grown into over years of building, stretching, and learning.
And if you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, identity, belonging, or the fear of being “too much,” I think this conversation will speak to you the way it spoke to me.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode Here:
To learn more about HOWL and the work we’re doing, visit: https://howl-marketing.com/